What do you use?
45"
108"
a sheet

I think we shouldn't skimp on the backing, especially when we purchase quality fabrics for the top.

does your LQS (local quilt shop) have 108" or do they want you to purchase 9 yards of 45" at $9 plus a yard?

mostly "regular" size fabrics that I was able to buy on a great sale. I have a collection of fabrics to use for backs and I just try to use the one that "goes" the best. They are all LQS Fabrics that I got for a great price.

I try to get 108 but sometimes I piece my backing to use up some fabric!

If you use John Flynn's method of piecing backing you do not need as much as some think. Go to his web site. I believe it is under projects. There is a formulae to use 45" fabric and cut on diagonal to make it wider. You can extend 44"-45" out to about 60". Saves fabric.

I have heard of this... is there tutorial on this???

by the way, Holice has so many great stencils, patterns and such... I love them.... thanks!

I usually use regular width fabric unless I can find a really nice wide backing fabric.

Me too. I make note of any shop that carries the 108 inch fabric and stock up on basic blenders. I piece when I have to to match something.

I have never used 108" fabric. I usually find a great way to puzzle piece various scraps together.

The green print used in this is just regular 45" inch fabric. It was cut the long way to put the strip on the right side.

Once I made a giant log cabin on the back of a quilt. I just started with a big center square and kept putting big strips around each side until it was big enough. I had to put some on the top and bottom to make it rectangular.

I have heard and read that sheets should not be used for backing. I think it's something about the thread count, but not completely sure about that. I used fabric for backings and made a large 4 or 9 patch when I was trying to reduce my stash.

I usually use 108 or 120 inch. Recently I read about using up some of your stash that you want gone. Let's face it, sometime a piece of fabric stays aroud forever. The cautions about using your stash for this is 1 be careful of the color that you put one the back. If you have white and put black on the back it may show through. Also, use the least amount of seams as possible. Lots of seams equals harder time quilting.

I purchased Moda, Roman Holiday, red tone on tone, 108" wide, it is still sitting in my closet. I find that it is hard to match the wide fabrics to the quilt tops I have made.
JulieM

I use sheets all the time. The only reason I heard not to is it is hard to hand quilt with the high thread count.

i've used both - pieced 45 width and used the 108 wide. It depends for me what is cheaper. I'm going to have to google the John Flynn thing....

I'm getting ready to make a quilt for my mom - and i am putting some pretty tone on tone on the back. I wanted to put a blue on the back, but couldn't find the right shade....

If you go to walmart, they have lower count sheets - It's been a while, but i've seen 180 or 200 count....I use them to line curtains when i make them

My backing is usually 45" fabric, many times I'll just use what I have and then add some blocks to it if I am short, it adds a nice secondary look to a quilt. I use the 108" when iv'e done a king size, just as it is cheaper.

also, for my backing, when the local quilt shops have their end of year sales I usually buy the fabric on the clearance rack for backing. nothing like $4.5 a yard for top notch fabric.

I have never used a sheet. I have done both the others however. I pick up 108" backing when I see it on sale if I can and will pick up several yards of neutral 45" fabric on sale as well just for these purposes.

John Flynn's instructions for diagonal pieced back is at

www.flynnquilt.com

Go to John's Workshop, then Free lessons and then scroll down for Diagonal Pieced Back

It took me awhile to understand the math but when I did, it is very easy.

Making the giant log cabin for a backing truely a wonderful idea! I sometimes just go blank and lose creativity when it comes to the backing!! that will definately be an idea to keep close !!

?????? REALLY!?!?! I must not complain then. At Mary Jos' in Gastonia, NC her average price for 45" cotton is $6.29 which is high compared to last year when it was $5.49

Lately I have gotten into doing pieced backings making extra blocks or using orphan blocks from my stash. I really like the look and have not had any problems quilting them on my LA. The result is almost a reversable quilt. Granted I have only done 2 so far. In the past I have used the 44" fab and pieced it with complimentary fabric to get it up to size or simply bought extra to seam it. I have sent out one quilt to be LA (before I got mine) and for that I bought the 108" wide stuff from Thousands of bolts. Feedback from the LA is that she preferred to work with the wide backing. At a recent quilt show they had a special on wide backs so I bought enough for 2 quilts. One was a green batik and the other was a brown with a little pattern to it.

Oh, I like this one. Great job. I may have to be a copy cat. Thanks,

I use what ever I have. I have used sheets, or fabric that I get on sale or a good price on!

I try to use a wide backing fabric, but if I have the 44/45" fabric and it goes better then I piece it and use it. I try to match my quilt tops with the backing if I can.

usually the quilt decides what i use for the backing; sometimes i piece a back with different blocks of fabric, sometimes i buy wide fabric, sometimes i use minky or fleece...it just depends. i use what ever i need to at the time...never buy 9+ yards of fabric for a back though...i'm afraid it would get cut up and used for a block before it made it to a quilt back. if the back is not fleece, minky, or 108"-116" wide...i piece a back.... as in multiple fabrics pieced together till it's big enough.

i usually piece back from left over front fabric

When I say $9 plus a yard... I like to shop local, because without my local quilt shop I would be lost.
When you make a special quilt, you want the back to be as nice as the top, so I often try to find same fabric family.

If you can shop for sales for backing that is what I prefer.
Our local shops have 20% off if you finish the bolt, so sometimes I get a double % off if it is on sale. Up to 50% off at times.

I have done all sorts of things. Pieced backs can be really cool! You end up with a reversible quilt of sorts. I also use wide when I can get a good deal or piece regular width. You can do a lot with backings and not compromise the beauty of your quilt.
I always use colors that coordinate- that's basically my only rule :)